Absolute Batman has released another manga allusion, and this time it is stunning in a different way. The DC comic that has been in the news since October 2024 now honors Berserk, one of the most influential and darkest manga series ever created. Honestly, it makes perfect sense.Batman's pose on the latest variant cover for Absolute Batman #20 was immediately recognized by fans as an homage to Guts, the protagonist of Berserk. Following its social media posting, the image quickly accumulated over 124,000 views. "Absolute Berserk" and skepticism about whether this is a reference at all.The Manga Love Letter from Absolute Batman ContinuesAbsolute Batman has already expressed its appreciation for Japanese comics. The series already referenced Akira back in September 2024 with a variant cover that copied one of the manga's most iconic motorcycle scenes. In August 2025, Kagurabachi, a more modern combat shounen that has been attracting a lot of attention, came next. Most recently, in February 2026, issue #18, a tribute to Chainsaw Man, sold out in a single day.The association with the Chainsaw Man seems perfect as Batman uses chainsaw hands in Absolute Batman #17. The tribute on the cover wasn't just for show. The connection made sense because Denji, the main character of Chainsaw Man, and Bruce Wayne both experience loneliness and early trauma. Fans even coined the term "Chainsawbat Man" for that variation.But there is more to this Berserk reference than meets the eye.Why Berserk Fits It So Well?Guts from Berserk (Image Credit: Hakusensha)Absolute Batman has always felt different from other superhero novels. Readers have been comparing the battle sequences to shounen comics since the beginning. The Bane fight, in particular, provoked debates about what it was like viewing a true shounen fight on paper. Things are starting to make sense now that we have this connection to Berserk.For those who don't know, in 1989, Kentaro Miura started drawing the dark fantasy manga Berserk. It revolves around Guts, a warrior who wants to exact revenge on Griffith, an old friend who betrayed him and sacrificed their mercenary group to become a godlike demon. The series is well known for its elaborate artwork, graphic brutality, and themes of betrayal, fate, and human resiliency. It was, in effect, the template for many dark fantasies that came after it.And if you look at what Absolute Batman has been doing, you can see similarities. This Bruce Wayne is working class, in contrast to the wealthy Bruce Wayne we are familiar with. He is dealing with trauma and fighting seemingly insurmountable forces. The tone is grim and darker than that of classic Batman adventures. Some readers have even pointed out that there are similarities between Guts and Griffith and Batman and the Joker in this series.The Implications of This for the FutureNot everyone, though, is convinced that the cover is a genuine reference to Berserk. Some fans claim it is just a standard sword-wielding stance. One Twitter user said it looks more like Ned Stark than Guts. Another pointed out that since many fantasy and manga works contain similar images, calling it a clear resemblance could be a stretch.𝕾𝖙𝖊𝖊𝖟𝖚𝖘 𝕮𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖙 @LordDi666LINKThis is more Ned Stark than GutsHowever, whether or not the cover is intentional, what matters is that it is happening. Absolute Batman is frequently compared to manga and anime, which is one sign of DC's success in fusing Western and Eastern storytelling techniques.In interviews, Absolute Batman author Scott Snyder and illustrator Nick Dragotta have both mentioned how much they adore Berserk. Variant covers are not the only things being affected. In contrast to manga, the series offers a self-contained plot that can be understood without reading five other novels. Both Berserk creatures and Chainsaw Man's devils have been compared to the monster designs.Eikuld @EikuldLINKRepeating what I said in other thread, does anyone know I have to buy this specific variant from a specific artist’s website or is it just like regular variants (cover a,b,c, etc). Don’t want to miss out like the chainsaw inspiration one :’)DC President Jim Lee claims that manga's larger range of genres has made it more popular than American superhero comics. At the vanguard of DC's apparent effort to learn from that success comes Absolute Batman.The series broke monthly sales records in 2024 and was the best-selling comic of the year. It even reached its highest ranking of number five on the New York Times Best Seller list in September 2025. These data show how well superhero storylines and manga elements may be combined.ConclusionWhether the Berserk reference in Absolute Batman #20 is real or just strongly implied isn't really important at this time. The series has established itself as something genuinely distinctive in the superhero genre. While remaining completely Batman, it draws inspiration from the best aspects of manga narrative. And for fans of both the Dark Knight and Berserk, it is really exciting to see that unfold.